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Namibia: COVID-19 Death Sparks Panic
13 July 2020
The Namibian (Windhoek)
By Charmaine Ngatjiheue and Ester Mbathera
PANIC has gripped the country following the announcement of the first Covid-19-related death at Walvis Bay over the weekend.
The country also continues to record a high number of positive cases at the coastal town, raising fears the disease's community spread could be wider than anticipated.
On top of this, rumours circulated that the deceased did not die of the virus, adding to confusion.
On Friday, minister of health and social services Kalumbi Shangula announced Namibia's first Covid-19-related death at Walvis Bay, involving a 45-year-old man who presented to the Walvis Bay State Hospital on 5 July with symptoms.
"He complained of dizziness, difficulty breathing and a cough," the minister said.
Prior to that, the deceased visited a healthcare facility on 2 July, as he is known to be on treatment for schizophrenia, but has had no recent psychotic episodes.
When the deceased visited Walvis Bay State Hospital on 5 July, Shangula said his vital signs were not satisfactory, and a respiratory examination showed abnormalities of the lungs.
"The patient was diagnosed with pneumonia to rule out Covid-19, and was admitted to the transition ward and received treatment and further examination," Shangula said.
The patient's condition worsened on 6 July, and he also started showing signs of severe kidney failure and sepsis. The patient became restless, hyperventilated and died on Wednesday, 8 July.
Five days after admission, the patient's Covid-19 test results came back positive.
STATE BURIAL
"A person who died due to Covid-19 is buried by the state and not by the family," Shangula yesterday said...
Namibia: COVID-19 Death Sparks Panic
13 July 2020
The Namibian (Windhoek)
By Charmaine Ngatjiheue and Ester Mbathera
PANIC has gripped the country following the announcement of the first Covid-19-related death at Walvis Bay over the weekend.
The country also continues to record a high number of positive cases at the coastal town, raising fears the disease's community spread could be wider than anticipated.
On top of this, rumours circulated that the deceased did not die of the virus, adding to confusion.
On Friday, minister of health and social services Kalumbi Shangula announced Namibia's first Covid-19-related death at Walvis Bay, involving a 45-year-old man who presented to the Walvis Bay State Hospital on 5 July with symptoms.
"He complained of dizziness, difficulty breathing and a cough," the minister said.
Prior to that, the deceased visited a healthcare facility on 2 July, as he is known to be on treatment for schizophrenia, but has had no recent psychotic episodes.
When the deceased visited Walvis Bay State Hospital on 5 July, Shangula said his vital signs were not satisfactory, and a respiratory examination showed abnormalities of the lungs.
"The patient was diagnosed with pneumonia to rule out Covid-19, and was admitted to the transition ward and received treatment and further examination," Shangula said.
The patient's condition worsened on 6 July, and he also started showing signs of severe kidney failure and sepsis. The patient became restless, hyperventilated and died on Wednesday, 8 July.
Five days after admission, the patient's Covid-19 test results came back positive.
STATE BURIAL
"A person who died due to Covid-19 is buried by the state and not by the family," Shangula yesterday said...